The second lady's visit to the Grand Rapids field office kicked off door-to-door canvassing in local neighborhoods and was the first of her three West Michigan visits Saturday.

In an attempt to garner support from middle-class families, Biden's three-minute speech briefly addressed affordable higher education, support for military families, women's health rights and restoring jobs.

As an educator, Biden said this election is personal to her.

"Our administration is fighting to make higher education affordable to the middle class," she said, citing the administration's increase in Pell Grant funding.

Biden said the administration is fighting for military families with a tax credit to employers who hire veterans.

"In just one year, we’ve exceeded our goal in hiring over 125,000 veterans and we say it’s our sacred obligation that we have to take care of our military families," she said, drawing applause from the crowd of an estimated 200 people.

Addressing women in the audience, Biden said President Barack Obama has their backs, mentioning the Lilly Ledbetter Act and increased accessible health care services for women.

"We cannot go backwards," Biden said.

Biden said President Obama is working to build jobs.

"When we came into office we were losing 750,000 jobs a year," she said. "In the past 30 months we’ve increased our jobs so they’re growing by 4.6 million."

"Joe and Barack have our backs, and it’s time that we have their backs."

Volunteer Mindy Walker said everything about Biden's speech resonated with her. She teaches special needs adults between the ages of 18 and 26, and she worries about funding cuts.

Walker, who personally thanked Biden for her work, said the address felt genuine to her.

“Her eyes and her heart reaches out, so you know she’s authentic. That’s important to me. I wanted to get a reading on her," Walker said.

Biden headed from Grand Rapids to an event with Kalamazoo College. She planned to make a final stop in Battle Creek, where she will help open an Obama campaign office and assist with a phone bank.

Kelsey Knight, a spokesman for Romney and vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan, said Republicans offer a better future for Michigan and the country.

"With 9.0% unemployment, President Obama has failed Michigan," Knight said. "The Romney-Ryan plan to strengthen the middle class has inspired and excited thousands of Michiganders to mobilize for Super Saturday - knocking doors and making phone calls on behalf of Mitt Romney, Paul Ryan and the Republican ticket.

"Michigan is not better off under President Obama, but under a Romney presidency we would see energy independence, more jobs, more take home pay and a stronger middle class.”